We had a very scenic drive from the Cave to Kalaw. Te made it a cultural experience by pulling over at any gathering of local people working and visiting with them. One group of villagers was harvesting rice. There were approximately 25 people harvesting rice that they would keep for themselves. Had they been paid it would be about $3.50 a day.
As we entered Kalaw Te noticed people preparing for the new moon fireworks celebration. Leaping out of the car we joined the group of partiers beating gongs, playing a large drum, and dancing. Arms in the air we danced our way up the street following a line of young woman carrying lanterns. The locals embraced us and Te quickly found himself playing one of the drums.
The following morning we were off to the market. The local fare was all you could ask for and then some.
The rest of the day was spent trekking. The countryside around Kalaw was a mix of field and farms with a small hilltop village where we stopped for lunch. Te was pleasantly surprised to find the film crew and stars of his favorite comedy series filming in the village.
We eventually headed up to Hill Top Villas and a quiet evening. The days are fascinating but exhausting. A cold beer while watching sunset was the perfect way to complete the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment